Exhibition: Leopardi's Dream: The Engravings of Francis West, 1 to 30 June 2017
Henry Miller
As part of the E17 Art Trail, I shall be exhibiting Francis West's complete collection of engravings. Difficult to categorise in any particular style or movement, Francis' work is steeped in the knowledge of the great traditions of figurative art. An extraordinary draftsman, whether painting, drawing or, as here, engraving, his work exudes an inimitable style of its own, full of wondrous people, mythical creatures and performing animals.
Francis’ career spanned over 40 years, from his first solo show in 1973, to his final collection of paintings, exhibited posthumously in 2016 by the Megan Piper Gallery; some of which were completed just before his untimely death in December 2015. He leaves an extraordinary body of work, which is a testament to his sustained daily commitment to drawing and painting.
His work is included in many public collections, including the British Museum, Pallant House Gallery, Arts Council of Great Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as numerous private collections. (Please note that the exhibition is being held over two sites - see below.)
